Tony nominee joins Hairspray cast

Welcome to the ’60s, Kansas City! Hairspray, Broadway’s musical comedy phenomenon, plays under the stars for six performances, Friday, July 27 – Thursday, Aug. 2, and Starlight is pleased to announce that Tony Award® nominee Brad Oscar recently joined the cast. Oscar will portray the iconic role of Edna Turnblad, 16-year-old Tracy’s mother who hasn’t left their apartment in years – but whose life is about to change when her teenage daughter’s dreams become reality.

A two-time Tony Award nominee for originating roles in The Producers (Franz Liebkind) and Something Rotten! (Nostradamus), Oscar owns an extensive and impressive Broadway resume. His performance in The Producers garnered him the most acclaim, replacing Nathan Lane as Max Bialystock in the original Broadway production, while his recent Broadway credits include Nice Work If You Can Get It, Big Fish and the national tour of The Phantom of the Opera.

Set in 1960s’ Baltimore, Hairspray tells the story of 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad, who intends to groove her way onto TV’s most popular dance program, “The Corny Collins Show.” After auditioning and ultimately winning a role with the show’s dance company, Tracy becomes an overnight sensation and uses her newfound influence to advocate for the show’s racial integration. With the help of her fellow cast mates, Tracy tries to change the world, dethrone the reigning Teen Queen and win the affections of heartthrob, Link Larkin—all without denting her ‘do!

The original production of Hairspray won eight Tony Awards®, including Best Musical. The New York Times raved, “If life were everything it should be, it would be more like Hairspray. It’s irresistible!” Hairspray features beloved songs as “Good Morning Baltimore,” “Welcome to the 60’s,” “Without Love” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.”

This feel-good musical is directed and choreographed by Broadway veteran Jerry Jay Cranford, whose favorite directing credits include Les Miserables and The Putnam County Spelling Bee for the Merry-Go-Round Theatre in New York, Madagascar: A Musical Adventure (world premiere working with MTI licensing) at the Coterie Theatre, and The Marvelous Wonderettes in Vancouver.

Hairspray’s principal and ensemble cast will include a number of performers with Kansas City roots including Jessica Alcorn as Tracy, Cathy Barnett as Velma Von Tussle, Eric Geil as Link Larkin, Katie Karel as Penny, and numerous ensemble members making their Starlight return.

Hairspray opens at Starlight Theatre on Friday, July 27 and runs for six performances through Thursday, Aug. 2. All shows start at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $14 and are available at www.kcstarlight.com, by calling 816.363.7827 or visiting the ticket office at 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, Mo., 64132.